UK to produce Nissan electric car

Nissan is to build its new electric car - the Leaf - at its Sunderland plant, the Japanese company has announced.

Hundreds of jobs are expected to be safeguarded once production begins in 2013 - part of a £420m investment in electric cars. The investment is backed by a £20.7m government grant and up to £220m from the European Investment Bank. Ministers have also backed Ford's planned £1.5bn investment in cleaner engines with £360m in loan guarantees.